Art competition highlights annual bird migration

THE enigmatic Latham’ s Snipe, after departing early autumn on an epic non-stop 8,500-kilometre flight from the Hunter Estuary wetlands, is now taking time out to breed in northern Japan.

Come July, Latham’s Snipe and other migratory species will commence their journey back to the Hunter wetlands to fatten up on invertebrates, insects and seeds before resuming the cycle in 2027.

To raise awareness of the birds’ amazing journey and the importance of maintaining healthy wetlands, on which they depend, the Port Stephens Community Arts Centre in collaboration with Port Stephens Sister Cities Committee is conducting an art competition.

The East Asian Australasian Flyway Art Competition, for adults and students, calls for digital entries to be received by 31 July.

Winners will be announced in September.

Prizes from sponsor Ingenia Lifestyle are: Overall Winner: $2,000; Open 1^st $1,500, 2^nd $1,000; High School Student 1^st $800, 2^ND $650; and Primary School Student 1^st $400, 2^nd $300.

The competition is part of efforts under an agreement with Japan to work towards conserving and making wise use of wetlands, which are in decline worldwide.

The councils of Port Stephens, Newcastle and Kushiro in northern Japan formed the Sister Wetlands Agreement 32 years ago.

The municipalities share the shorebird species Latham’s Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) with around 30,000 travelling between Japan and Australia each year.

Latham’s snipe, 29-33 cm long and with a wingspan of 50-54cm, is the largest snipe in Australia.

In Australia they tend to be very shy and wary, and mostly active during the night or in the morning before sunrise.

“The journey of Latham’s Snipe and other migratory species like the Eastern Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit we hope will fire the imagination of artists young and old,” said Elaine Fereday, deputy chair of the Port Stephens Sister Cities Committee.

More more information on the competition, visit: https://pscac.org.au.